US Armed Forces Executes Lethal Strike in Pacific, Leading to 4 Deaths
As stated by a high-ranking military official, the American military executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a boat in the eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of four people.
“Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Surveillance verified the vessel was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male drug traffickers were eliminated, and no US military forces were harmed.”
Background and Prior Strikes
This announcement follows a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all targeted oil tankers to and from Venezuela. That statement on social media, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, vowing to escalate the military presence.
Just on the previous day, US defense officials said it had conducted strikes on three boats it accused of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, killing eight people. Beginning on 2 September, more than 20 military engagements have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 individuals, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Government Defends Actions Amid Pressure
The government has faced growing demands to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has defended its efforts as a successful operation, saying it has stopped drugs from entering US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the bounds of legal military action.
Although the administration has said the campaign is about stopping drugs headed to the US, remarks from a senior aide seemed to confirm a wider geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff remarked the president “wants to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president cries uncle.”
This indicates the military campaign may be linked to a push to oust Venezuela's current leadership.
